Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael Feast Day September 29

Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

Feasts of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

September 29

“Amen, Amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”  John 1:51

Yes, angels are real.  And they are mighty glorious, beautiful and magnificent in every way.  Today we honor three of the multitude of angels in Heaven:  Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

These angels are “archangels”.  An archangel is the second order of angels just above the guardian angels.  In all, there are nine orders of celestial beings that we commonly refer to as angels and all nine of these orders are traditionally organized into three spheres.  The entire hierarchy is traditionally organized this way:

Highest Sphere:  Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones.

Middle Sphere:  Dominions, Virtues and Powers.

Lower Sphere:  Principalities, Archangels and Angels (Guardian Angels).

The hierarchy of these celestial beings is ordered in accord with their function and purpose.  The highest of the beings, the Seraphim, were created solely for the purpose of surrounding the Throne of God in perpetual worship and adoration.  The lowest of the beings, the Guardian Angels, were created for the purpose of caring for humans and communicating God’s messages.  The Archangels, whom we honor today, were created for the purpose of bringing messages of great importance to us and to accomplish tasks of the highest importance in our lives.

Michael is well known as the archangel who was empowered by God to cast Lucifer our of Heaven.  Lucifer is traditionally thought to be of the highest sphere of celestial beings and, thus, being cast out by a lowly archangel was quite a humiliation.

Gabriel is well known for being the archangel who brought the message of the Incarnation to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

And Raphael, whose name means “God heals” is referred to in the Old Testament Book of Tobit as is said to have been sent to bring healing to Tobit’s eyes.

Though not much is known of these archangels, its important to believe in them, honor them and to pray to them.  We pray to them because we believe God has entrusted them with a mission to help us bring healing, fight evil and proclaim the Word of God.  Their power comes from God, but God has chosen to use the archangels, and all celestial beings, to accomplish His plan and purpose.

Reflect, today, upon your knowledge of the angels.  Do you believe in them?  Do you honor them?  Do you rely upon their powerful intercession and mediation in your life?  God wants to use them, so you should truly seek their help in your life.

Lord, thank You for the gift of the Archangels whom we honor today.  Thank you for their powerful working in our lives. Help us to rely upon them and to love them for their service.  Archangels, pray for us, heal us, teach us and protect us.  Jesus, I Trust in You.

Above taken from the book “Daily Reflections for Ordinary Time: Weeks 18-34”  Feast of the Archangels, September 29 by John Paul Thomas

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael Archangels

The Word ‘Angel’ denotes a Function rather than a Nature

From a homily on the Gospels by Saint Gregory the great, pope

You should be aware that the word ‘angel’ denotes a function rather than a nature.  Those holy spirits of Heaven have indeed always been spirits.  They can only be called angels when they deliver some message.  Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called Archangels.

And so it was that not merely an angels but the Archangel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary.  It was only fitting that the highest angel should come to announce the greatest of all messages.

Some angels are give proper names to denote the service they are empowered to perform.  In that holy city, where perfect knowledge flows from the vision of Almighty God, those who have no names may easily be known.  But personal names are assigned to some, not because they could not be known without them, but rather to denote their ministry when they come among us.  

Thus, Michael means 

“Who is like God?”; 

Gabriel is 

“strength of God”; 

and Raphael is 

“God’s Remedy”.

Who is like unto God!  St. Michael the Archangel

Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by His superior power. So also our ancient foe desired in his pride to be like God, saying: “I will ascend into Heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of Heaven; I will be like the Most High.”   He will be allowed to remain in power until the end of the world when he will be destroyed in the final punishment.  Then, he will fight the Archangel Michael, as we are told by John: A battle was fought with Michael the archangel.

Blessed Virgin Mary and Archangel Gabriel

So too, Gabriel, who is called God’s strength, was sent to Mary.  He came to announce  the One Who appeared as a humble man to quell the cosmic powers.  Thus God’s strength announced the coming of the Lord of the Heavenly powers, mighty in battle.

Raphael means, as I have said, God’s Remedy, for when he touched Tobit’s eyes in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his blindness.  Thus, since he is to heal, he is rightly called God’s Remedy.

Above taken from the Liturgy of the Hours Ordinary Time Weeks 18-34, September 29 Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels